The Rangers do Yu.

RonBurgundy

Looks like the Rangers may have a new Darvish of their rotation

thenavarro

I saw he has a lot of K's, but they were in Japan. Is he a junkballer or a power pitcher?

I'm not too excited about this dude yet.

RonBurgundy

I believe he throws 92-95 with command. Interesting they're willing to spend on him but not CJ. Let's hope they've done plenty of scouting.

lanemyer85

<< <i>I saw he has a lot of K's, but they were in Japan. Is he a junkballer or a power pitcher?

I'm not too excited about this dude yet. >>



FB reaches the mid 90's. He also throws a pretty good splitter and slider, and has a change and curve as well. The baseballs are smaller in Japan so that's always an issue particularly with Japanese starters, but he had a pretty good showing in the WBC circa 2009...2-1, 2.08 ERA and 20 K's in 13 innings.

WTCG

He sort of reminds me of a Randy Johnson meets Tim Lincecum. He's young and his stuff has some good breaking action. Any team that lands him will probably be glad they did.

orioles93

He may be good but i still cant see justifying $100 million for a young pitcher that hasnt thrown a pitch in the MLB yet.

frankhardy

Huh? The baseballs are smaller? I've never heard that. How much smaller. That could definitely be an issue.

Dboneesq

<< <i>Huh? The baseballs are smaller? I've never heard that. How much smaller. That could definitely be an issue. >>


Copied off the Internet: What Else is Different?

The first thing you notice is that the ball is smaller and lighter weight than a Major League official ball. Speaking of official balls, the NPB does not have one. Each team gets to select its own official ball. While there is potential for abuse, the balls chosen by each team conform to league specifications. Rest assured, the batter won’t be surprised to find he is facing a MLB ball one game and a smaller one the next.

fiveniner

Another thing in question about this fellow instead of the typical 4 days rest you get at the major league level they get 5 days between starts.I really think someone is gonna end up overspending on him hopefully I am wrong.

Barndog

how can they go wrong? The list of Japanese players who have achieved tremendous success in MLB is so very long

Treetop

51 million just to have the right to try and work out a deal? Crazy if you ask me. anyways, looks like he'll have plenty of starts against Houston, Seattle and Oakland in the ole AL West to pad that ERA

jdip9

Ya, but does he have a GYRO-balll like Dice-K??? (lol)

WTCG

<< <i>51 million just to have the right to try and work out a deal? Crazy if you ask me. anyways, looks like he'll have plenty of starts against Houston, Seattle and Oakland in the ole AL West to pad that ERA >>



The current posting process is terrible for all parties involved except for the NPB league itself.

This guy isn't Dice-K. This guy actually has a good work ethic.

Garabaldi

<< <i>Huh? The baseballs are smaller? I've never heard that. How much smaller. That could definitely be an issue. >>



That was one of the issues with DiceK, gripping of the ball.

lanemyer85

The smaller ball isn't the only factor. Starters in NPB throw on 5 days rest as opposed to the general 4 days in MLB.

fwiw here's the final two years of performance in NPB from each respective starter

RonBurgundy

I'll take a guy who's 6-5, 225 throws 93-95 & loves to compete over CJ "I nibble around # 8 hitters in Game 7 of the World Series" Wilson.

If it amounts to a swap, the Rangers have improved. Now deal Matt Harrison + prospects for Matt Garza & it's on!

bking

<< <i>The smaller ball isn't the only factor. Starters in NPB throw on 5 days rest as opposed to the general 4 days in MLB.

fwiw here's the final two years of performance in NPB from each respective starter

>>



Wow. I've seen his stats, but not in context like that. he's a much different pitcher, and a much more dominating one, than any of those other guys.